Phuket Old Town: Food Tour with 15+ Tastings & Small Group

Summary

Phuket’s street food stories with every bite and laughter

You’ll wander Phuket Old Town’s backstreets with a local foodie guide, tasting everything from smoky Hokkien noodles to wood-fired naan dipped in Burmese curry. With just eight guests per group and over 15 tastings included (plus drinks), you’ll share laughs and stories while discovering flavors you won’t find on your own. Expect full bellies and new friends by the end.

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t rush the noodles — you have to let them breathe,” our guide Nui grinned, holding her chopsticks just so. I was still fumbling with mine, distracted by the smoky scent curling up from my bowl of Hokkien noodles. The morning air in Phuket Old Town felt heavy but friendly, like it wanted you to slow down and notice things — old men chatting over tea, a flash of pink dragon fruit at the market, someone’s radio playing a song I half-recognized.

I’d expected pad Thai or green curry, but Nui steered us away from anything predictable. Instead, we ducked into a worker’s teashop where the naan came out warm and blistered from a wood fire. She showed us how to mop up Burmese curry (I definitely got it on my shirt — worth it). There were only seven of us on this Phuket food tour, which made it feel less like a tour and more like tagging along with friends who knew all the shortcuts. At one point Li, another guest, tried ordering in Thai and got everyone giggling — even the vendor joined in.

We wandered through little alleys I’d never have found alone. Roti crisped on hot plates; someone handed me a soft drink I couldn’t pronounce (sweet, cold, perfect for that heat). The market was alive with shouts and bargaining — not for show but because people actually needed ginger or fish or whatever was piled high that day. Nui explained how Chinese traders shaped these flavors centuries ago; I liked that she didn’t make it sound rehearsed. Sometimes she’d pause mid-story to wave at an auntie or point out something random — “That cat has lived here longer than me.”

I left full (seriously full) but also kind of changed? It’s strange how sharing food with strangers can feel so familiar after just four hours. I still think about that first taste of massaman curry — creamy, spicy, nothing like what I’ve had back home. The tour ended back where we started near Ranong Main Market; nobody wanted to say goodbye right away so we lingered under some awning while Nui scribbled down her favorite noodle shop for us to try next time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Phuket Old Town food tasting tour

• Meet at Ranong Main Market
• Explore backstreets of Phuket Old Town
• Taste 15+ local street foods
• Try wood-fired naan with Burmese curry
• Slurp smokey Hokkien noodles
• Eat poh pia rolls with tamarind sauce
• Enjoy crispy roti with massaman curry
• Learn about Phuket's food heritage
• Conclude tour at Ranong Main Market

Top questions

How many tastings are included on the Phuket food tour?

The Phuket food tour includes over 15 different tastings.

Is this Phuket food tour suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, vegetarians are welcome; they may need to skip 2-3 tastings but won’t go hungry.

Are drinks included during the Phuket Old Town food tour?

Yes, bottled water and local soft drinks are included in the tour.

How many people are in each group for this Phuket food tour?

The groups are limited to a maximum of 8 guests per day.

Does the tour include pickup from hotels?

No hotel pickup is included; guests meet at the starting point in Phuket Old Town.

Is this food tour suitable for people with shellfish or peanut allergies?

No, due to cross-contamination risks it isn’t suitable for severe shellfish or peanut allergies.

Where does the Phuket food tour start and end?

The tour starts and ends near Ranong Main Market along Ranong Road in central Phuket Old Town.

What time does the Phuket food tour usually start?

The regular tours start at 10:00am or 10:30am; sometimes there is an extra one at 12:30pm.

What’s included

Your day includes four hours exploring old Phuket Town’s markets and side streets with a professional foodie guide, over 15 unique tastings (from Hokkien noodles to Burmese curries), bottled water and local soft drinks along the way—plus plenty of laughs with your small group before finishing back near Ranong Main Market.